On Sunday,
9 July1648, seven months
prior to the execution of King
Charles, the Earl and his army of approximately 400 men entered St
Neots in the county of Huntingdonshire.The Earl's men were
hungry and weary, following their escape from Kingston upon
Thames, where the Parliamentary forces had completely
overwhelmed them. Of his original army of 500, the Earl
escaped with around 100 horsemen and were immediately followed by a
small party of Puritan and Parliamentary
horsemen. After much hesitation regarding in which
direction they should flee, the Earl decided on Northampton, and the group made their way via St Albans and Dunstable. Upon the outskirts of Bedford the group
turned eastward towards St Neots town. En route from Kingston, the
Earl was joined by the young Duke of Buckingham
and the Earl of
Peterborough. Colonel John
Dalbier, an experienced soldier and Dutch national, had also
joined them. The Roundheads hated Dalbier,
as he had previously served with them under the 3rd Earl of Essex until
taking up arms in favour of the Royalist
cause.

The field officers of Holland’s force sought only rest and safety.
Colonel Dalbier called a council of war, where many officers voted
for dispersing into the surrounding countryside. Others suggested
they should continue northwards. Colonel Dalbier advised on the
strategic position of St Neots and
the fact that the joint remnants of Buckingham and Holland’s forces
had increased sufficiently since the retreat from the Roundheads at
Kingston. He suggested they meet and engage their pursuers. He
further added that, by obtaining a victory, the fortunes of war
could be turned in their favour. Due to his vast experience as a
soldier, his words were listened to with respect. He further
offered to guard them through the night in case of a surprise
attack, or meet the death of a soldier in the defence of the town.
A vote was taken and Dalbier’s plan was adopted.

The Earl
of Holland who, it was said, "had better faculty at public address
than he had with a sword," joined the Duke of Buckingham and the
Earl of Peterborough in addressing the principal residents and
townsfolk of St
Neots. Buckingham spoke at length, claiming "they
did not wish to continue a bloody war, but wanted only a settled
government under Royal King Charles." Assurances were also given
that their Royalist troop would not riot or
damage the townfolks’ property. Of the latter, it is recorded that
they were faithful to their promise.

Fatigued by their battle and consequent
retreat from Kingston, the field officers eagerly sought rest.
Colonel Dalbier, true to his word, kept watch over them.

The small
group of Puritan horsemen who had pursued them had, upon reaching
Hertford, met with Colonel Scroope and
his Roundhead troops from their detachment at Colchester.

At 2
o’clock on Monday morning, 10 July, one
hundred Dragoons from the Parliament forces
arrived ahead of the main army at Eaton Ford. Colonel Dalbier was at once informed, and
immediately gave the alarm: "To horse, to horse!"

The Dragoons, equipped with musket and
sword, crossed St Neots’ bridge before the
Royalists were fully prepared. The Battle of St Neots had begun.

The few Royalists guarding the bridge quickly fell back from the
superior numbers before them. The ensuing battle was now fought on
the main square and streets of the town. The remaining Royalists
were now fully prepared for combat. The main
army of Roundheads had also arrived, and a further wave of Puritans
crossed the bridge into town. The battle was fierce, with the
Puritans gaining ground.

Colonel Dalbier died during the early stages of the battle. Other
prominent Royalists, including Buckingham's younger brother Francis
Villiers, and Kenelm Digby (son of the scientific writer of the
same name), were also killed during the battle. Other officers and
men drowned whilst attempting to escape by crossing the River Ouse. The young Duke of Buckingham, being
overwhelmed by the speed of these events, escaped to Huntingdon
with sixty horsemen, with the intention of continuing towards
Lincolnshire. Upon realising the Roundheads were in hot
pursuit, he changed plans, and via an evasive route returned to
London from where he later escaped to France.

The Earl of Holland with his personal guard fought their way to the
inn at which he had stayed the previous night. The gates had been
closed and locked, but were quickly opened to admit him, and
immediately closed again as he entered. The Parliamentarians soon
battered them down and entered the inn. The door of the Earl’s room
was burst open to reveal him facing them, sword in hand. It is
recorded that he offered surrender of himself, his army and the
town of St Neots, on condition that his life was spared.

The Puritans seized the Earl and took him before Colonel Scroope, who ordered him to be shackled and
imprisoned under guard. The remaining Royalist prisoners were
locked in St Neots parish church overnight, then taken to Hitchin
the following morning. The Earl and five other field officers were
taken to Warwick
Castle, which had remained a parliamentary stronghold
throughout the war. They remained prisoners for the next six
months, until their trial for high treason. In London it was said
"His Lordship may spend time as well as he can and have leisure to
repent his juvenile folly."

The Earl of Peterborough also escaped dressed as a gentleman
merchant, but was later recognised and arrested. Friends aided
their escape again whilst en route to London for trial. He then
stayed at various safe houses, financed by his mother, until he
managed to flee the country.

On 27 February1649,
the Earl of Holland was moved to London for trial. He pleaded his
crime was not capital, and claimed that he had surrendered St Neots
town on the condition that his life would be spared.

It was stated at the time that in 1643 Earl of Holland had joined
Parliament and in the same year had changed sides and joined the
Royalists. He was with them at the Battle of
Chalgrove – Oxford – but stole away during a dark night
before the close of battle. On 3
March the Earl was condemned as a traitor and was sentenced to death.

His brother, the Earl of Warwick, and the Countess of Warwick
petitioned Parliament for his life, as did other ladies of rank.
The Puritan Parliament divided its vote equally. The speaker gave
the casting vote for the sentence to stand. The petition had
succeeded only in deferring the execution for two days. The Earl
was dangerously ill during these days and neither ate nor
slept.

His execution

On the morning of his execution, 9 March, before Westminster Hall, the Earl walked unaided,
but spoke to people along the way, declaring his surrender at St
Neots was on condition that his life would be spared. At the
scaffold he prayed. He then gave his forgiveness to the executioner
and gave him what money he still had on his person, which was
approximately ten pounds. Upon laying his head on the block, he
signalled the executioner by stretching his arms outwards.

His head was severed by one stroke of the executioner’s axe. Very
little blood flowed, due to his weakness, and the strong feeling
was that, even had the execution not taken place, he probably would
not have lived for long.

The
second rising of the English Civil
War had culminated in the Battle of Preston during August 1648, with the Roundheads marching
two hundred and fifty miles in twenty six days through foul weather
and conditions, to defeat and ensure the Royalists would never
re-form as an army.

The
townspeople of St
Neots, who apparently were neutral during the entire
conflict, continued their peaceful existence.

References

Further reading

Clarendon, Earl of (Edward Hyde), The History of the
Rebellion and Civil Wars in England. Several volumes,
depending on edition. A description of the events at St Neots, and
Holland's subsequent imprisonment, appears in the 1840 edition
(Oxford), vol. VI pp. 92-95.

Decision Most Deadly Historical novel set in England,
1641, during the build up to the English Civil War